Alexander McQueen

A procession of models in all back, followed by a newly renovated royal family feel describes Alexander McQueen's 2008 Fall RTW runway show to a T. Starting the show off with Amanda Laine in a shoulder baring halter top, asymmetrical skirt, leggings, and boots all in black, the mood is immediately set. The models are done up in dark hair, a pale coat over their entire body, and a heavy brow, up until look 24 where our palette is revitalized with golds and fresh fabric. By look 29 we complete our transition into the royal family and we are presented with deep, rich colors, in thick fabric. Consisting mostly of tulle, the skirts are very full, yet short

The first image is Amanda Laine, in the first look of the show. The mood that McQueen has created for the show is severe and effective. Amanda seems to be evoking the tone with her prominent, and clenched jaw, and angry demeanor. Amanda is from Women Model Managagement. The second picture is Guinevere Van Seenus, the 18th look. I really do like this fitted knitted cashemere dress. I absolutely love the hood, but that's probably because i am a hood person. The loose color, huge pocket, and skirt beneath to make the look have volume, and movement, only takes the already good design, and put it right on the edge of being over the top, making it a great look! Guinevere is from IMG Modeling. Siri Tollerød is the 29th look of the show. She is the beginning of the actual full fledged royal family feel. Head aloof, she doesn't strike the same nerve as Amanda did, but commands the same attention. The dress is magnificent, just the right length, with just the right amount of movement. McQueen has taken old corpses, and brought them back to life. Vlada Roslyakova, also from Women Model Management, was the 32 look of the show. In this look, McQueen takes a not so simple dress, with a tulle skirt, and adds a royal blue jacket. Coupled with indian diamonds, and a model who's nose is high enough that the front row can see her brain, McQueen makes sure to continue in his royal family theme. The last look of the show was, Alyona Osmanova, from Women Model Management. At first glance I am transported back to the movie, The Golden Age. It's not the same color, but Alyona enovokes the same feeling, the same attitude. The vibrant red commands power, while the bejewled headdress commands attention. McQueen has surely surpassed all of his own, and other shows for this season.

Private

 So the Legacy's come our, I think in February or something, and I've completed all the current books of Private.  Although I don't own any of them, through borrowing some friends and going to the library, I got ahold of each and every one.  Legacy though, I read while siting at Barnes and Nobles all Friday.

They are undoubtedly some really great books.  Not necessarily books that will be classic, unless classics are redefined, but they definitely are the books of the time, products of pop culture.  From the Vera Bradleys, to the Balenciaga shoes, Kate Brian the time era into 2008. Brian takes the old school method of plcing someone in a environment they don't belong in and lets "Glass-Licker" thrive.  From a house with a druggie mother, to a school money is not an issue, Glass-Licker is transplanted and must adapt quickly, and adapt she does.  Each year, her world is rocked by death and betrayal.  After one book, her entire world is turned upside down when her Inner Circle is taken away and she is faced with a changing Billings House.  A new leader immediately steps up and Glass Licker plans and executes a well needed coup d'etat.

Although it ends in tragedy, the coup d'etat is successful, and in the newly released book our Billings home is in search of a leader.  The Dorm has been through turmoil for a while and needs someone who's not just a smart mouth (and we find our just why they seem so omniscient).  Billings needs someone who will uphold tradition and will commit to the house's livelihood.  The new president, does exactly that.  Glass-licker doesn't seem so feeble after her last feat.

The Problem

Marc Lamont Hills is crazy!  Who in their right mind would look at Vogue cover and see LeBron James, as King Kong and Gisele Bundchen as the lady on King Kong!  Marc Hills is a fool!  How do you compare a rap video with the cover of Vogue?  He's talking a whole bunch of bullcrap.  He went and got a doctored and he's talking straight crap!  He says it;s representation.  It's not representation because LeBron James is representing himself and at most he is representing basketball since in the picture he is supposed to be the King of Basketball!  In videos, they have women, many women, on a regular basis, so that it generalizes black, and Hispanic women, and if I go to the highest extent all women in a sexual manner.  It's derogatory!  Using the B-word and saying hoes in reference with women in general is not the same as this cover!  Instead of being overjoyed because there is an African American male on the cover of Vogue, he's going out and spreading these seeds of disunion, of destruction, and of regress!  This, this is the problem with my community:  the black community!

I've seen this for a long time but I just haven't had the right motivation and here it is!  Our community is acting like crabs.  It's just one problem of many, but we're acting like crabs.  Instead of bringing one another up, and helping one another get to the next level, we try to grab onto anyone leaving.  We try to force our way along, and in the process we weigh one another down and bring everyone back to square one!

What Hills is doing is not what he should be doing.  As one who's studied Urban Studies or whatever he studied, he should be working to help us.  It should not be his prerogative to take a cover like that, which was bad only to one interpretation, and cause an issue over it.  In my opinion he should've had more education, more poise, and more class.  He should have pointed out that it was progress, albeit progress that he may not have agreed with.  He should've asked someone working with Vogue about it and he should've brought it up in an inquisitive manner, not an accusatory one!  He seemed like a very smart guy to me, until he opened his mouth and spouted all of that crap.